arts & entertainment >> the best of everything Fancy World Fare Upscale Crave restaurant blends the bests of many countries. W here the word "modeling" is concerned, the first thing that comes to mind is fashion ... but here is a case where modeling might have something to do with the beginning of a restaurant, too. Being exposed to many cultures while traveling the world as a model (Germany, Greece, Italy, England, Spain, Africa, Spain, etc.) brought him a food exposure that also produced an idea ... That there were so many different foods of the world, why not a place of fusion where a country's basic foods and cooking styles would not be followed. This was the mind- set theme for Khalil Ramadan to open the upscale Crave restau- rant on Michigan in Dearborn. Khalil experienced Alex and Khalil many food styles dur- ing his modeling and restaurant consultation travels, which have served as inspiration for the preparations conceived at Crave ... "It isn't so much the food I tasted;' says Khalil, "but the techniques and styles of food from various cuts of meat to a wide range of fruits and vegetables." Where did the name Crave come from? ... While dining in New York, Khalil "fell in love" with sushi ... "I would find myself craving it every day, hence the name `Crave' came into play for the name of our family restaurant" ... Japanese food plays a prominent role among the menu creations like Chilean sea bass infused with ginger, honey and a miso glaze or chicken teriyaki with char-grilled chicken, strip-loin teriyaki, marinated char-grilled sirloin, a sushi bar with most unique selections, etc. Khalil's brother/partner, Alex Ramadan, is general manager and makes all the sauces for the restaurant's extensive menu. Crave hours are Monday, 4:30-10 p.m.; Tuesday- Thursday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-10; Friday, 11-2:30 and 4:30-11:30; and Saturday, 4:30-11:30. Interestingly, not all the food at the restaurant is the same as from the countries where Khalil visited, modeled and consulted ... Many of them are highly innovative inspirations by its chefs, who pride themselves on taking the dining product and making changes according to their imaginative talents ... But those with a Japanese touch are not tampered with. Ramadan Crave's offerings bring worthy applause. IT WAS REMINISCENT of yesteryear's restaurants and nightspots when young folks had a ball at many places from which to choose ... There aren't that many today, but they may have found one that could fill their entertainment wants. Together with guys and gals like 47-year members Eunice and Milt Ring, whose community exploits are so highly regard- ed; Estelle Robinson, the 16-year-old girl who won this column's first Beauty- Personality Contest in 1948; Al Weiss, Ray and Joan Antos, etc., etc., etc. ... The oodles of young swingers were among a whopping 220 people who attended the recent Havana Nights shindig at Knollwood Country Club, West Bloomfield, where everyone enjoyed another all-out pleasurable evening. Jumpin and jive music by the Ultraviolet group, food galore by Executive Chef Denise O'Connor, whose theme innovations in dining fare are big favorites of the members and their guests ... Theme dining food is not the easiest to combine with choice smatterings of regular fare such as Caesar salad, but Chef Denise welcomes the chal- lenges and comes out a win- ner ... Passed hors d'oeuvres like seafood gazpacho cocktail, skewered shrimp, chicken and green chili quesadilla, etc., were choice ... The strolling dinner from varied stations for salads, Cuban black bean soup, etc. ... entrees of seafood paella, mussels, lobster, clams, shrimp, blackened snapper, etc., Cuban inspired desserts like churros with chocolate dipping sauce, etc. ... And table decorations that cleverly featured table- ware in Cuban cigar boxes. The large room decorated with Cuban palms coming out of tall glass vases on tables gave a glamorous look ... And the excellent servers were the kind that restau- rants would give their eyeteeth to have. Since Randy Burgess came on board as general manager, Knollwood Country Club has taken giant steps in popularity ... And with people like Jessica Waxman, club- house manager, and others, it has been getting raves from members and guests. As president of Knollwood, Stan Bershad has smilingly seen the member- ship continually grow ... Stan's mother, Esther Bershad, was married to Hy Vogel, noted caricaturist at the former London Chop House. Dr. Scott Sircus and wife, Linda, know their Cuban food, enjoying plenty while he was receiving a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida and medical degree from University of Miami and she, as Linda Nosanchuk, often went to Coral Gables Cuban restaurants while she attended university. Alan Harvith is known as Mr. Knollwood for his continued efforts on its behalf, and when Ray Altman, presi- dent in 1955, passed on, Ray's wife, Ann Altman, gave his gavel to Alan, who later had occasion to use it when he became president of Knollwood. Even the weather cooperated as the beau- tiful night filled with beautiful people out- side on the patio and indoors from room to room ... and a good time was had by all. THOSE WHO RECALL the first out- door patio at Como's on Woodward at Nine Mile, Ferndale, are amazed when seeing it today ... That first one was thought to be among the largest in Michigan with a whopping 185 or so capacity ... Today with three areas that total around 600 seats for sure it is ... Having a large outdoor patio is one thing ... Filling it is another ... This is no problem at Como's which is usually packed, especially on Thursday through Saturday evenings. I DON'T KNOW how much Phil and Anna Slomovitz liked ice cream, but the late Detroit Jewish News founder and his wife would be customers anyway if they were alive today ... Phil and Anna were that kind of relative ... Their great- nephew, Jeff Slomovitz, opened the Ice Cream Etc. on Middlebelt and 11 Mile next to Kroger, Farmington Hills ... Phil and Anna were the uncle and aunt of Jeff's mother, Paula Slomovitz. CONGRATS ... To Andrea Barenholtz on her birthday ... To Karen Marx on her birthday ... To Stuart Logan on his 55th birthday ... To Leonor Reizen on her birthday ... To Joe Breshgold on his 88th birthday ... To Seymour Yarows on his 88th birthday ... To Sam Monast on his 88th birthday. II Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. AcC Nov Opal/ in 060 Perdyc/ Not valid on sandwiches or salads.. dine-in only. One coupon per table per day.With coupon only. May not be combined with any other offer. Expires 8/28/11 rlts, :ass* NAN`Plt XX2,11. WOW „ • • 47/ 01 ,10 v WSKXS Sahara Restaurant Sahara Restaurant Sahara Restaurant 24770 Coolidge Oak Park, MI 48237 29222 Orchard lake Road Farmington Hills, MI 48334 3625 East 15 Mile Road Sterling Heights, MI. 48310 248-399-7744 52 ,,,en Buy one Entree, Receive up to 50% off Second entree of Equal or lesser value. Value up to $10.00 Minimum 2 guests per check. Valid with the purchase of 2 beverages. July 28 • 2011 248 851 1122 - - 586-264-0400